Mumbai:
The sharp knife lay safely tucked in his college bag for three days. He was waiting for an opportunity to stab her.
The murder of 19-year-old Darshana Panchal, who was allegedly killed by the man she loved, was a result of a love triangle, the police said yesterday.
To win over her love, Darshana ended up losing her life. She was stabbed a dozen times by her classmate, Adil Shaikh (21).
"Adil, however, was in love with another girl, Shehnaz (name changed)," said the police.
All three were students of Mittal College, Malad (west).
However, Darshana did not show up at college as she was running a temperature. And the knife lay in Adil's bag for three days.
"Adil had learnt that Darshana used to meet Shehnaz and badmouth him, hoping she would keep away from him," the source added. "Influenced by Darshana, Shehnaz had been avoiding Adil recently."
"Darshana had introduced Shehnaz to another boy and told Adil about it," the source added.
"Adil has told us that his family knew about his relationship with Shehnaz and the two were planning to get married," said Police Inspector Dhanaji Nalavade.
"Adil blames Darshana for Shehnaz 's cold behaviour towards him and also suspected that Darshana had instigated his other friends against him."
On Thursday evening, Adil asked Darshana to come along to a mall in Malad. He, however, took her to a secluded spot behind Interface in Malad west on his motorbike.
"He took the knife from his bag and slashed her on the face, hands and throat," said Nalavade.
A few passersby nabbed Adil on hearing Darshana's screams. Adil has been remanded in police custody till September 2.
Darshana's father Vijay Panchal, a carpenter, said, "She never told us about Adil Shaikh being her friend."